Shoe heel



Feb. 17, BURGER S'HOE HEEL Filed May 29, 1929 'JSNVENTQR & m I AT GRNEY Patented Feb. 17, 1931 JOSEPH BURGER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK SHOE HEEL Application filed May 29,

Of the two distinct types of heels in general use, wood and leather, the leather heel possesses certain advantages, particularly in that it can be finished to the same general color and appearance as the sole edge of the shoe; the wood heel on the other hand, can be produced in practically any desired shapes and in shapes and heights practically impossible to produce in leather heels. The leather 2o heels are heavier than wood heels, and have a tendency to check and will not always take a uniform color or finish, because of the different degrees of porosity, etc, in the various lifts of which they are composed.

The objects of this invention are to attain the advantageous features of both types of heels without the disadvantages and to accomplish this in a practical commercial way.

The novel features of construction and combination b which the foregoing and other desirable olijects are reached will be apparent from the following specification, in conjunction with the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification.

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are perspective views illustrating different shapes of heels incorporating the invention and embodying three different though related forms of the invention; Fig. 4 is a broken enlarged sectional detail as on substantially the plane of line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a similar View illustrative of a further modification of the invention; Fig. 6 is a plan view on a reduced scale showing the cover for a heel like that indicated plied to the heel block.

In the several forms of the invention illustrated, the body of the heel consists of a block or core of wood or similar material turned or otherwise shaped to the desired heel form 7.

In Fig. 1, an ordinary high heel shape is shown; Fig. 2 illustrates a heel shape of the Cuban or military type andFig. 3 illustrates a heel of the extreme Louis type.

In each embodiment of the invention illustrated, the heel shape is covered by a thin sheet of covering material 8, which is stretched tightly and is securely fastened by cement or the like. While the covering material may vary, grain split or split sole in Fig. 3 as lined previously to its being ap-- 1929. Serial No. 366,793.

leather is preferably used. This is a high grade leather, but split so thin as to be quite inexpensive. The quality of this material enables it to take a finish equal to the finish of an expensive shoe. Another reason why this 5 high grade material can be used practically, is that these heel covers can be made from small scrap leather pieces, such as the oflal from leather suitcases, bags, split inner soles, etc.

To gain the full leather heel eifect, the cover is lined, streaked or'striped, after the ap- 1pealrance of the lift edges of a solid leather In Fig. 1, the lining is effected by streaking or striping the cover with a rough or uneven edged brush, to leave the substantially parallel markings 9 of paint, dye or any suitable coloring. These generally parallel stripes may be continuous or discontinuous, may be absolutely straight or wavy or irregular, the final result in any event being a heel having the general external appearance of a solid leather heel. A somewhat more .marked effect may be attained as shown in Fig. 2 by lining or striping the heel cover in alternate light and darker substantially parallel areas 10, 11, this also being usually effected by a painting operation.

In Fig.3, in which a full Louis heel is illustrated, the lining is more prominently and more definitely applied by scratching, cutting, scribing, rolling, embossing or otherwise forming the substantially parallel lines 12 in the heel cover as shown in the detailed view, Fig. 4. These markings may be actual cuts or scores in the surface of the cover, preferably however extending only to a shallow depth so as not to cut through the cover or materially weaken the same. It is possible I however that the cuts might extend entirely through the cover in which event, the cover in its final form will be made up of a series of detached narrow strips. 9 In Fig. 5, the lining is efi'ected bycutting grooves 13 about the heel block and then forcing the cover into these grooves to leave the external lining 14, the latter operation being eifected for example, by rolling or bufing the cover with suflicient pressure to effect the displacement into the grooves.

The effect of the wedge piece ordinarily used to give the desired pitch in leather heels may be attained as indicated in Fig. 3, by rolling or cutting in two sets or groups of lines 15, one group substantially parallel with the top of the heel and the other group substantially parallel with the bottom of the heel, leaving a wedge shaped sector 17, bounded by the relatively converging lines where the two groups come together at the intermediate portion at the heel. This wedge piece effect may be produced in the other forms of the heels as indicated in Fig. 2.

Actual cutting or scoring may be used in the first illustrated forms of the invention to accentuate the lining or streaking, the result being the same as if the spaces between the lines 12 in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 Were colored to represent adjoining lift edges.

The top lift of the heel indicated at 18 may be of leather, rubber or other material and may consist of two or more layers if desired.

It will be seen that with this invention, heels may be made in all the forms in which wood heels have been made, including the more complicated Louis type of heels and that they can be produced with the finish and general fine appearance of solid leather heels. Actually, a better appearance can be attained, because of the fact that the cover may be a single continuous section of the same piece of leather and so may take a more nearly uniform color and appearance, and any colors desired.

As shown in Fig. 6, the heel cover 8 may be lined and streaked or striped in colors after the appearance of different heel lift edges as at 12, previous to its being applied to the heel blank, the lines and colors in this case being produced for instance, by printing or embossing the same in the cut out blank. These heel cover blanks may be made of celluloid, fabric or other suitable material, but

sole leather splits have proved thus far to be the most practical and effective.

In the several forms of the invention disclosed the effect similar to a full height leatherlift heel is obtained by making the cover or surface layer of the heel with narrow bands of color sufliciently distinguished or identified one from the other to appear as the edges of leather lifts forming the body of the heel. The physical structure giving the heel this desired appearance is all in the surface layer, so that the heel block may be turned as heretofore and in any and all desired shapes and styles. These features are particularly important, enabling the production of the desired effects in the full Louis and other special types of high heels.

What is claimed is: 1. A shoe heel, comprising a block having the configuration of a high heel and provided with a cover, said cover having thereon narrow bands of distinguishing colors in simulation of heel lifts, said bands of colors disposed one above the other the full height of the heel and a top lift of different material than the block secured to said block and forming with the bands of color the external finish of the heel.

2. A shoe heel, comprising a turned wood heel block of the desired height and shape of the finished heel and provided with a cover, said cover having thereon narrow superposed bands of distinguishing colors surrounding the heel block in simulation of heel lifts and extending one above the other substantially the full height of the block.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a shoe heel cover of leather and having a surface of colored curved narrow bands extending the width of the cover and arranged in superposed order the full height of the cover in simulation of heel lifts.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a shoe heel cover comprising a thin flexible layer having curved colored bands extending the width of the cover and in superposed order in simulation of heel lifts substantially the full height of the cover.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a shoe heel cover comprising a thin flexible layer having curved colored bands extending the width of the cover and in superposed order substantially the full height of the cover in simulation of heel lifts, said bands being arranged in two groups, one group substantially parallel with the top edge of the cover and the other group substantially parallel with the bottom edge of the cover and a crescent shaped band being left between the two groups of the bands, intermediate the top and bottom edges of the cover.

6. A shoe-heel, comprising a turned wood heel block of the desired height and shape of the finished heel, a heel cover having narrow superposed bands of distinguishing colors surrounding the heel block and extending one above the other substantially the full height of the block in simulation of heel lifts, said bands of color being arranged in two groups with those in one group parallel and substantially parallel with the top of the heel and those in the other group parallel and substantially parallel with the bottom of the heel, said two groups having between them at an intermediate portion of the heel a substantially wedge shaped band of color.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH BURGER. 

